Top tips for a successful blog

If you’re already running a blog or thinking about starting one, there are lots of things you can do to make it really stand out and increase readership. But before you do anything, ask yourself: Why do you want to do it, and what is the purpose of your blog?

As an exercise to help you find out and gain clarity in how you’re going to operate your blog, take out a piece of paper and write down the top three reasons you want to have one. It might be to promote a certain topic that you’re passionate about, or perhaps you want to push various products or services. Whatever the case, make sure you have a firm idea of what you want to blog about and how to ensure it’s actually read – otherwise, what’s the point?

Getting the foundations and infrastructure of your blog set up couldn’t be easier. There’s a world of content management systems available, many for free – WordPress, for example, is extremely popular and easy to use. With that and a hosting plan from an internet service provider – unless you’re attaching your blog to an existing website, which is a great idea for search engine optimisation – and you’re all set to go.

The best blogs, and the most widely read ones, are those that deliver a tone of authority or “ownership” of their subject matter. A financial blog that has impartial but sound and original advice on the latest stock picks and other investments is bound to do well and keep people coming back again and again to check for new updates. It’s the originality and expertise that matters more than anything, and keep in mind that a blog doesn’t just have to be all about you, as in the author, because you can invite experts in your chosen field to write guest blogs for you – the richer the content mix, the better.

In terms of marketing your blog and reaching new people, emailing a digest or newsletter to people who sign up on your blog is one method that’s extensively used. Make sure you use email verification so that you have real people and not spammers and that your subscribers are people who actually want to read your blog.

Once you have such a list, make sure your system is protected– you can download a free antivirus online.

You’ll no doubt know by now that to spread your message far and wide and attract more people to your blog you’ll need to use the various social media sites to promote yourself. Employ catchy headlines on your blog posts and keep the language crisp and simple to encourage sharing and interaction.

Good luck with your blogging path and don’t forget if you want to have a chat do just drop me a line.

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